Sally and the Limpet

Sally, a round-faced girl with a mop of blond hair, is exploring on the beach when she discovers a limpet (a barnacle-like gastropod) adhered to a rock. Sally prys the limpet loose, but it becomes stuck to the top of her finger. No one has any luck dislodging the small creature--not even the doctor, who tries chemicals, injections, potions and pinchers. Finally, the youngster runs back to the beach and jumps--fully clothed--into the water, where the limpet, ``feeling at home once more, made a little squelching noise and wiggled off her finger.'' And, since her nature teacher had said that limpets spend their entire lives on the same rock, Sally sets it back where she found it. James's affable book offers much to young readers: an engaging, chatty text; breezy, amusing pictures; and a valuable, subtly conveyed message about the importance of respecting the natural world around them. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)